Combination manual-automatic water control means for tub-shower installation



Dec. 14, 1965 T. E. NOAKES 3,222,690

COMBINATION MANUAL-AUTOMATIC WATER CONTROL MEANS FOR TUB-SHOWERINSTALLATION Filed Jan. 4, 1963 52 FIE-LE INVENTOR.

77/0/1415 6. Names United States Patent Ofilice 3,222,690 Patented Dec.14, 1965 24322.net)

COMBENATIUN MANUAL-AUTOMATIC WATER CONTROL MEANS FOR TUB-SHOWER IN-STALILAHUN Thomas E. Noakes, Detroit, Mich, assignor to AmericanRadiator a Standard Sanitary Corporation, New York, N.Y., a corporationof Deiaware Filed Jan. 4, 1963, Ser. No. 249,392 7 Claims. (Cl. 4-194)This invention relates to bathtub-shower installations and particularlyelectric means for controlling the flow of water to automatically obtaindifferent preselected tub water levels. The invention is particularlyuseful in households having a number of children where it may bedesirable for the housewife to run a full or partial tub of water, withthe assurance that the tub will not overfill beyond the desired leveleven though she might be temporarily called away from the bathroom.

One object of the invention is to provide a tub-shower installation withimproved means for automatically discontinuing the flow of water to thetub upon the attainment of selected predetermined tub water levels.

Another object is to provide an arrangement whereby the tub-fillingoperation may be terminated either automatically by the attainment of aselected water level or at any time under the discretion of the user.

A further object of the invention is to provide a tubshower installationwith an electrical shut-off valve which can be operated only when thesupply water is at a relatively safe low temperature, thereby preventingchildren and others from inadvertently scalding themselves with hotwater from the shower head or tub spigot.

Other objects of this invention will appear from the followingdescription and appended claims, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings forming a part of this specification wherein like referencecharacters designate corresponding parts in the several views.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a cross sectional view showing a tubshower installationhaving one embodiment of the invention incorporated therein;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross sectional view showing an electric switchand a portion of a water mixing device employed in the FIG. 1arrangement; and

FIG. 3 is a reduced scale top plan view of the FIG. 2 structure.

Before explaining the present invention in detail, it is to beunderstood that the invention is not limited in its application to thedetails of construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, since the invention is capable of otherembodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also,it is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employedherein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, there is shown a tub-showerinstallation comprising a vertical bathroom wall having its lower edgeabutting the flange portion of a conventional bathtub 12 which islocated below a shower head 14. Water is supplied to the shower head 14or tub spigot 16 through a water mixing device 18 which in theillustrated arrangement is constructed as shown in US. Patent 2,932,453.

The mixing device is provided with a cold inlet 20, a hot inletsubstantially directly behind inlet 20, and a mixed water outlet 22. Inorder to provide various outlet water temperatures there is utilized amanual knob member 24 which is connected with a screw or stem 26; a ballvalve element (not shown) is engaged with the non-illustrated end ofstem 26 so as to vary the proportionate amounts of hot and cold waterflowing through outlet 22, all as better shown in the aforementionedpatent. As shown best in FIG. 1, knob 24 is disposed in front of aflanged face plate 23 which is located on the front surface of wall 10.

Interposed between water mixing device 18 and the connected water lines30 and 341 is a solenoid valve 32 which may be of any suitableconstruction, as for example that shown in US. Patent 2,500,750. Inoperation, when the solenoid portion 36 of the valve is de-energized thevalve acts to completely interrupt the flow of water to the tub orshower. To divert water to the selected shower head or tub spigot thereis provided a manually operable diverter valve 38. In its illustratedposition the diverter valve closes the spigot 16 so that water fromvalve 32 is discharged through shower head 14. When diverter valve 38 ismanually pulled upwardly the water from valve 32 flows through thespigot 16 and automatically holds the diverter valve in its raisedposition so that all of the water discharges through the spigot. Suchdiverter valves are old in the art, and the present invention is notspecifically concerned therewith.

One feature of the present invention is the employment of an automatictub water level control means comprising an electric switch 40 havingtwo terminals 42 and 44 electrically connected with the terminals of thesolenoid 36. The illustrated switch 40 is a combination pressure andmanual switch, i.e., it can be operated either by development of apositive gas pressure on diaphragm 52 or by actuation of manual button68. In the FIG. 2 position the switch is de-energized so that solenoidvalve 32 is closed. Manual depression of button 68 causes the pin memberto snap the blade 58 overcenter so that blade portion 62 snaps in thereverse direction to complete a circuit across contacts 64 and 66 forthereby energizing the solenoid portion of the valve. Water then canflow through the valve into bathtub 12. As the tub fills with water, airpressure developed within tube 88 causes the diaphragm 52 to move stem54 for thereby snapping the switch blade back to its illustratedposition. In this manner the automatic means 40 is utilized to provide adesired water level in the tub. If at any time it is desired to manuallyinterrupt the flow of water to the tub the button 68 can be pulledoutwardly from its illustrated position so as to draw member 80outwardly and cause the switch blade to be snapped to its illustratedoff position for closing the solenoid valve.

It will be noted that the automatic means 40 is provided with a lever 72which is fulcrurnmed at point 74. The left end portion of lever 72 abutsagainst a pin which is thereby arranged to move toward knob 24 whenbutton 68 is depressed. The knob is formed with a recess 102 whichregisters with pin 100 only when the knob is in a non-scalding lowtemperature position. The arrangement constitutes a safety feature forpreventing small children from inadvertently operating the water valvewhen the temperature knob is at an unsafe setting.

Referring more particularly to the construction shown in FIG. 2, theswitch 48 comprises a bakelite housing member 46 and a metallic covermember 48 having a pressure inlet tube 50 constructed generally as shownin US. Patent 2,941,055. Clamped between members 46 and 48 is adiaphragm 52 which suitably mounts a stem 54 having a shoulder 56registering with the central blade portion 58 of a snap-actionovercenter switch blade. The other operating portion of the bladecomprises two outer blade sections identified by numeral 62, and aninterconnecting blade section which carries a contact 64. Interposedbetween the contact-carrying section and blade portion 58 is a U-shapedtoggle spring 60 which causes the contactcarrying section of the bladeto move with snap action toward or away from the fixed contact 66 inaccordance with movement of blade portion 58. Blade portion 58 isoperatively associated with each of members 54 and 80 so as to be movedby one or the other of them at different times during service.

In its illustrated position the switch blade is in a circuitopencondition, with no current flowing between the terminals 42 and 44.Also, central blade portion 58 is in an over-center elevated positionsuch that it must be moved or reset downwardly before thecontact-carrying portion of the blade can snap upwardly to engagecontact 66. Manual resetting of blade portion 58 is effected through amanual button 68 which has a laterally extending arm 70 afiixed thereto.The button is arranged to freely extend through a lever 72 which isfulcrumed on a knife edge 74 formed in the fixed cover element 76. Acompression spring 78 normally holds the lever 72 and the push-button68arm 70 assembly in its illustrated position wherein the upturnedportion on the right end of lever 72 is engaged with the inner face ofcover 76.

Cooperating with lever 72 and arm 70 is a reciprocable pin member 80which has two spaced shoulders or abutments located adjacent the freefaces of the lever and arm. The spacing between these abutments isgreater than the combined thickness of the arm and lever so that button68 can be pulled outwardly from its illustrated position to cause arm 70to exert a pulling force on pin 80, all without tendency to move lever72 from its illustrated position. The end portion of member 80 adjacentblade portion 58 is also provided with shoulders or abutments locatedadjacent opposite faces of the blade portion so that movement of member80 can be utilized to move the blade portion. The spacing between theselast mentioned abutments is sufficient to permit normal movement ofblade portion 58 by stem 54 without interference from member 80.

In service, when button 68 is manually pushed in from its illustratedposition the arm 70 rocks lever 72 inwardly about fulcrum 74, and thelever in turn moves the reciprocable pin 80 inwardly to snap the bladeportion 58 from its illustrated position. As this happens the contact 64snaps upwardly against fixed contact 66, and the blade portion 58 takesa position closely adjacent shoulder 56 on stem 54.

As shown in FIG. 1, bathtub 12 is provided with a conventional hollowcasing 81 which houses the linkage 82 connected between the manual lever84 and the drain valve 86. In the illustrated embodiment this casing isutilized to also accommodate a flexible pressure tube 88 which extendsfrom a point adjacent the floor of the tub upwardly through casing 81and eventually over to the tubular member 50 shown in FIG. 2. Duringservice, when the movable switch contact 64 is engaged with the fixedcontact 66 water can be delivered through the spigot 16. to provide arising water level in tub 12 and pressure tube 88. As the column ofwater rises in tube 88 the trapped air exerts a continually increasingpressure on the diaphragm 52 so that the stem shoulder 56 exerts anincreased pressure on central blade portion 58. When the pressure issufiiciently great blade portion 58 snaps overcenter to its illustratedposition and the contact 64 is thereby disengaged from contact 66 so asto de-energize solenoid 36 and thereby discontinue the tub-fillingoperation.

The tub water level required to actuate the switch can be varied orselected by means of a manual control knob 90 which is carried on ascrew 92, said screw having threaded engagement in a fixed collar 94 sothat rotation of knob 90 causes portion 96 of the screw to move thespring seat cup element 98. By turning knob 90 in one direction I canthus increase the loading on spring 99 so as to increase the tube 88pressure which is necessary to move diaphragm 52 to the blade-actuatingposition. By turning knob 90 in the opposite direction I can lower theloading on spring 99 and thereby decrease the air pressure necessary tooperate the blade. The face plate 28 may be provided with indicia interms of tub water level corresponding to the loading on spring 99. Forfactory calibration purposes portion 96 of screw 92 may have anadjustable threaded connection with the major portion of the screw.During use of the device in the household portions 92 and 96 act as asingle element.

From the above it will be seen that introduction of water into thebathtub is initiated by depression of button 68, and that cessation ofthe water flow can be effected automatically by the development of adesired water level in the bathtub. Additionally the water flow into thetub can be discontinued by a pulling operation on button 68. Thus, asthe button 68 is drawn upwardly from its illustrated position arm 70pulls the pin 80 upwardly so that it draws the blade portion 58 to itsillustrated position in which the solenoid 36 is de-energized.

In some instances it may be desirable to prevent the flow of hot waterby a simple depression of button 68. Thus, for example when smallchildren may be in the bathtub and may inadvertently or deliberatelypunch button 68, it is desirable that any water which might flow wouldbe at a relatively safe non-scalding temperature. To give this non-scaldoperation the lever 72 is arranged to have its left end in looseengagement with a slidable pin 100, and the knob 24 is constructed tohave a recess 102 register with pin 100 when the knob is in the cool orlukewarm position. The recess 102 is of limited circumferentialdimension so that it does not register with pin 100 when the knob is inthe hot or semi-scalding position. Thus when the recess 102 registerswith pin 100 pushbutton 68 can be depressed to initiate the wateradmission operation, but when the recess 102 is out of registry with pin100 the pushbutton 68 cannot be depressed, and the water admissionoperation cannot be initiated.

The interrelationship between button 68 and knob 24 is such that theknob must be in the cool or non-scalding position before the button canbe depressed. However after the button has been depressed to operate theswitch the spring 78 automatically returns the lever 72 to itsillustrated position so that knob 24 can be turned to any desired watertemperature. A second compression spring is trained around the reduceddiameter portion of button 68 to bias it toward its illustratedposition. The pushbutton is thus automatically returned to the shownintermediate position after the pushing or pulling force has beenremoved. This automatic return action does not however affect theposition of the switch blade since the lost motion connections on member80 permit tree movement of the switch blade under the influence of stem54 without interference from member 88. The water admitting operationcan thus be discontinued automatically due to the development ofpressure within tube 88 or manually by a pulling operation on button 68.

It will be appreciated that while the drawings necessarily show onespecific embodiment of the invention, yet the invention is capable ofpractice in various forms as come within the scope of the appendedclaims.

I claim:

1. In a tub-shower installation having a water mixing device equippedwith a manually-adjustable member for causing the device to supply waterof varying temperatures to the tub or shower: the improvement comprisingan electric valve connected with the mixing device to act as a shut off;a switch electrically connected with the electric portion of the valvefor energizing and de-energizing same; and an operator for the switchinterrelated with the manually-adjustable member so that the operator isprevented from movement to the valve-open position when themanually-adjustable member is at a relatively high temperature setting.

2. In a bathtub installation having a source of water: the improvementcomprising an electric shut-off valve interposed between the watersource and the tub; a pressureoperated switch having a pressureconnection with the tub to control the shut-off valve in accordance withthe tub water level; and a manual operator connected with the switch tomove same to the valve-closed or valveopen positions irrespective of thepressure existing within the aforementioned pressure connection; saidswitch comprising an overcenter snap action blade having two limitingpositions; and said operator comprising a reciprocable member havingspaced abutments arranged on one stroke to move the blade to one of itslimiting positions and on the other stroke to move the blade to itsother limiting position.

3. In a bathtub installation having a source of Water: the improvementcomprising an electric shut-off valve interposed between the watersource and the tub; a pressureoperated switch having a pressureconnection with the tub to control the shut-off valve in accordance withthe tub water level; and a manual operator connected with the switch tomove same to the valve-closed or valve-open positions irrespective ofthe pressure existing within the aforementioned pressure connection;said switch comprising an overcenter snap action blade having twolimiting positions; said operator comprising a reciprocable memberhaving a lost motion connection with said blade whereby on one stroke tomove the blade to one of its limiting positions and on the oppositestroke to move the blade to its other limiting position.

4. In a bathtub installation having a source of water: the improvementcomprising an electric shut-off valve interposed between the watersource and the tub; a pressure-operated switch including an overcenterswitch blade having a pressure connection with the tub to control theshut-off valve in accordance with the tub water level; and a manualoperator connected with the switch to move same to the valve-closed orvalve-open positions irrespective of the pressure existing within theaforementioned pressure connection; said manual operator comprising alever having first and second positions, a push-pull button arranged onthe push stroke to move the lever from its first position to its secondposition and arranged on the pull stroke to leave the lever in its firstposition, and a blade-engaging pin having spaced abutments engageablerespectively with the lever and button, whereby on the push stroke thelever moves the pin in one direction and on the pull stroke the buttonmoves the pin in the opposite direction.

5. In a bathtub installation having a source of water: the improvementcomprising an electric shut-off valve interposed between the watersource and the tub; a pressureoperated switch having a pressureconnection with the tub to control the shut-otf valve in accordance withthe tub water level; and a manual operator connected with the switch tomove same to the valve-closed or valve-open positions irrespective ofthe pressure existing within the aforementioned pressure connection;said switch comprising an over-center snap action blade having twolimiting positions; and said operator comprising a lever arrangedadjacent the switch, a slidable pin having first and second abutments atone end thereof arranged adjacent opposite faces of the snap actionblade and having third and fourth abutments at its other end arrangedadjacent opposite faces of the lever, a push-pull button having alaterally extending arm arranged between the lever and the fourthabutment so that a pushing force on the button causes the lever to movethe pin in one direction and a pulling force on the button causes thearm to move the pin in the opposite direction.

6. In a bathtub installation having a source of water: the improvementcomprising an electric shut-off valve interposed between the Watersource and the tub; a pressureoperated switch having a pressureconnection with the tub to control the shut-off valve in accordance withthe tub water level; and a manual operator connected with the switch tomove same to the valve-closed or valveopen positions irrespective of thepressure existing within the aforementioned pressure connection; saidswitch comprising .an over-center snap action blade having two limitingpositions; and said operator comprising a manually movable button havinga normal intermediate position, a pushed-down position for locating theblade in one of its limiting positions, and a pulled-up position forlocating the blade in its other limiting position; and means associatedwith said button whereby release of the pushing or pulling force thereonenables the button to automatically return to its intermediate positionwithout affecting the position of the snap action blade.

"7. In a bathtub installation having a source of water: the improvementcomprising an electricshut-off valve interposed between the water sourceand the tub; a pressureoperated switch having a pressure connection withthe tub to control the shut-off valve in accordance with the tub waterlevel; and a manual operator connected with the switch to move same tothe valve-closed or valveopen positions irrespective of the pressureexisting within the aforementioned pressure connection; said switchcomprising an over-center snap action blade having two limitingpositions; said manual operator comprising a pushpull button having anintermediate position, a pulled-up position, and a pushed-down position,a lever having a raised position and a depressed position, a firstspring acting to normally maintain the lever in its raised position andthe button in its intermediate position, a second spring acting tonormally bias the button from its pulled-up position to its intermediateposition, and a blade-engaging pin operatively connected with the pushbutton and lever so that movement of the push button from itsintermediate position to its pushed-down position causes the lever tomove the pin to one position, and movement of the pushbutton from itsintermediate position to its pulled-up posi tion moves the pin toanother position.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,492,913 12/1949Bailey 4-194 2,877,467 3/1959 Cloud 4194 2,941,055 6/1960 SussinZOO-83.9 2,991,481 7/1961 Book 4-l94 LEWIS I LENNY, Primary Examiner.EDWARD V. BENHAM, Examiner.

1. IN A TUB-SHOWER INSTALLATION HAVING A WATER MIXING DEVICE EQUIPPEDWITH A MANUALLY-ADJUSTABLE MEMBER FOR CAUSING THE DEVICE TO SUPPLY WATEROF VARYING TEMPERATURES TO THE TUB OR SHOWER; THE IMPROVEMENT COMPRISINGAN ELECTRIC VALVE CONNECTED WITH THE MIXING DEVICE TO ACT AS A SHUT OFF;A SWITCH ELECTRICALLY CONNECTED WITH THE ELECTRIC PORTION OF THE VALVEFOR ENERGIZING AND DE-ENERGIZING SAME; AND AN OPERATOR FOR THE SWITCHINTERRELATED WITH THE MANUALLY-ADJUSTABLE MEMBER SO THAT THE OPERATOR ISPREVENTED FROM MOVEMENT TO THE VALVE-OPEN POSITION WHEN THEMANUALLY-ADJUSTABLE MEMBER IS AT A RELATIVELY HIGH TEMPERATURE SETTING.